The story of a great football coach and fine human being. Vince Lombardi was a great football coach who has become a legend. The NFL championship trophy is named for him. His success with the Green Bay Packers revived that moribund franchise.
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Maraniss walks us through Lombardi's early life as the son of hard working, decent and honest Italian American immigrants. Lombardi played college football at Fordham, of all places, and became the first member of his family to graduate from college.
Coaching was Vince's passion and he steadily rose from high school head coach to an assistant at Army and to pro assistant and finally head coach. Lombardi won 5 championships including the first two Super Bowls.
The most interesting parts of the book were about Lombardi the man. He was a benevolent dictator with a fondness for scamps such as Paul Hornung and Sonny Jurgensen. He had a conservative reputation but was a New Deal Democrat and close friend of JFK. He supported Lionel Aldridge when the black player married a white woman in the early 60's. He was even tolerant of gays long before it was fashionable: his brother was openly gay.
Best scene in story:
The account of the cheating scandal at West Point involving the football squad.
Opinion about the main character:
His integrity and honesty.